RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Egyptian
security officials said the military had been deployed to the city,
where most of those sentenced are from, as police became embroiled in
violent clashes with protestors.

Officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets at those demonstrating, who feel aggrieved that they are shouldering the blame for the riots.

The violence during the match last year was the world's worst football related disaster in 15 years.

Fans of Al-Ahly, whose stands were
attacked by rival club Al-Masry in the
Mediterranean city of Port Said, had promised more violence if the
accused did not receive death sentences.

Families of the those killed during the disorder wailed in the courtroom as the judge gave the sentence, while some shouted 'Allahu Akbar' - Arabic for God is great

One man fainted, while others wailed and cried in disbelief as they carried pictures of the young men killed in the soccer riot.

Relief: A man, wearing a picture of his relative, reacts after the verdict. Family members shouted 'Allahu Akbar' - Arabic for God is great

Sentencing: The judge will sentence a further 52 people, charged in connection with the riots, in March

The judge said in his statement, read
live on state TV, that he would announce the verdict for the remaining
52 defendants at a later date.

While many of those on trial included alleged football hooligans, nine security officials also face charges.

The death sentences will be sent to a top religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for approval, as is customary in Egypt.

Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt said the violence which has been seen in the past two days 'can have no place in a truly democratic Egypt'.

'I am deeply concerned by reports of violent clashes resulting in a
number of deaths and injuries, following demonstrations to mark the
second anniversary of the 25 January revolution and the verdict in the
Port Said court case today,' he said.

'This cannot help the process of dialogue which we encourage as vital
for Egypt today, and we must condemn the violence in the strongest
terms.

Desperation: Thousands of desperate supporters trying to board a train after fleeing from the stadium

'We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to ensure that
all protests remain peaceful. I offer the condolences of the UK to the
families of all the victims.'

The UK remained 'committed as a strong friend of Egypt and the Egyptian
people to support the aim of strengthening true democracy', he went on.

'The right to peaceful freedom of expression and assembly is an
essential part of this, but the violence we have seen today can have no
place in a truly democratic Egypt.'

Many violent soccer fans, known as Ultras, have taken a leading role in protests over the past two years.

Both
Al-Ahly Ultras and Al-Masry Ultras widely believe that ex-members of
the ousted regime of Hosni Mubarak helped instigate the attack.

The police are also accused of gross negligence over their handling of the incident.

Running for cover: Players involved in a tie between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly had to flee Port Said Stadium during the riots which claimed 74 lives

Revenge: Fans of al-Ahly had promised more violence if the accused did not receive death sentences

Chaos: Egyptian football fans rush to the pitch during the riots. Another 52 people are awaiting sentencing

It is not clear what kind of
evidence, if any, was presented to the court to back up claims that the
attack had been orchestrated by regime officials.

All of the defendants - who were not
present in the courtroom today for security reasons - have the right to
appeal against the verdict.

The clashes occurred during a match between Port Said's Al-Masry and Cairo's Al-Ahly, the country's most successful club, on February 1 last year.

The final whistle prompted more than
13,000 home fans, armed with knives, iron bars and machetes, to storm
the pitch and attack rival Al-Ahly players and their 1,200 supporters.

Authorities shut off the stadium lights after the game, plunging it into darkness.

In the exit corridor, the fleeing
crowd pressed against a chained gate until it broke open. Many were
crushed under the crowd of people trying to flee.

In the days leading up to the
verdict, Al-Ahly fans warned of bloodshed and 'retribution' if death
sentences were not handed down.

Hundreds of Al-Ahly fans gathered
outside the Cairo sports club in anticipation of the verdict, chanting
against the police and the government.

While there has long been bad blood
between the two rival teams, many blamed police for failing to perform
usual searches for weapons at the stadium.

The Ultras,
are among Egypt's rowdiest and are proud of their hatred for the police,
who were the backbone of Mubarak's authoritarian rule.

The Ultras from Egypt's sports clubs
were engaged in deadly clashes with police near the Interior Ministry
headquarters in Cairo that killed 42 people less than three months
before the soccer melee in Port Said.

Attack: More than 13,000 home fans, armed with knives, iron bars and machetes, to storm the pitch and attack rival Al-Ahly players and their 1,200 supporters

Arson: Supporters of ousted president Hosni Mubarak were blamed for instigating the riots, in which parts of the Port Said stadium were set on fire